DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You are monitoring an Azure SQL Database that is experiencing high DTU consumption. You need to identify the queries that are causing high resource usage. Which two data sources can you use? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse wait statistics (sys.dm_os_wait_stats) with query-level performance data, but wait stats show system-wide bottlenecks, not the specific queries causing high DTU.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Query Store
Query Store (Option B) captures a history of query execution plans and runtime statistics, allowing you to identify queries with high CPU, I/O, or duration. sys.dm_exec_query_stats (Option C) returns aggregate performance statistics for cached query plans, including total CPU time and logical reads, which directly points to resource-intensive queries. Both are valid sources for diagnosing high DTU consumption in Azure SQL Database.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
sys.dm_os_wait_stats
Why it's wrong here
Shows wait statistics, not per-query resource usage.
- ✓
Query Store
Why this is correct
Tracks query performance metrics.
- ✓
sys.dm_exec_query_stats
Why this is correct
Returns aggregate performance statistics for cached query plans.
- ✗
sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats
Why it's wrong here
Shows index usage, not query resource consumption.
- ✗
sys.dm_io_virtual_file_stats
Why it's wrong here
Shows file-level I/O statistics.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
Key term
Query Store
Query Store is a built-in SQL Server feature that captures and stores a history of query execution plans and performance data for easy monitoring and troubleshooting.
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